Pine Supervisors Foresee No Tax Increase in Preliminary Budget

Pine's Board of Supervisors looked Monday at preliminary numbers for an $11.7 million budget that calls for no increase to the 1.2-mills real estate tax rate.

But the budget is a work in progress because there are a number of unknowns.

The township is in limbo about property values because Allegheny County's reassessment efforts are running behind schedule and have not reached Pine Township.

The median value of residential property in Pine is $227,650, according to the Allegheny County website, which would result in a $273.18 tax bill. 

Tax bills will go out April 1, as usual,  said Cheryl Fischer, township manager. Once properties are reassessed, the township might have to issue a refund or send another tax bill, depending on whether a property's assessed value goes up or down, she said.

"This whole year is a mess. Everything is up in the air," said Fischer after the supervisors' meeting, in which insurance changes and costs were also discussed.

"We might have to hold up some of our projects," said Fischer as the township awaits the reassessment.

The method of collecting the earned income tax is also changing. As of Jan. 1, employers in Pennsylvania are required to withhold the EIT from employees' paychecks. The new tax collector for Pine will be Keystone Collections Group.

As that transition is made, cash flow into the township coffers may be affected, too.

The supervisors will discuss the proposed budget again at their 6:30 p.m. meeting on Nov. 7.